Intermodal Marketing Companies (IMCs) for Beginners

Get a grasp on what intermodal companies do and how they can help your business

Intermodal marketing companies are growing in recent years, as they provide flexible and cost-effective shipping both domestically and internationally. Most IMC companies engage in contracts with third-party shippers, and provide all transportation and logistics services for the company that hires them. Often, an IMC company will require a minimum number of shipments from a client, to guarantee that shipping equipment will be available.

When you're reviewing intermodal marketing companies (IMCs) for beginners, following this process will help you determine whether intermodal shipping is for you, and will also help you find the right intermodal shipping company:

1. Understand what IMC companies do to see if they can meet your business needs.

2. Explore the cost savings your business can gain through intermodal shipping.

3. Choose an IMC company with strong credentials, if you decide that intermodal shipping is a good match for your needs.

 

Understand the role of an intermodal marketing company

Intermodal marketing companies do more than just transport goods from one place to another. Instead, they offer a comprehensive transportation and logistics solution by providing containers when necessary, and transportation by multiple methods, including water, air and land transport.
Try: Read an overview of what intermodal marketing companies do at Maps of the World. Entrepreneur offers an extended discussion of intermodal marketing companies in its article, “Conflict, Power, and Evolution in the Intermodal Transportation Industry’s Channel of Distribution.” Hofstra University has an excellent overview of intermodal transportation that includes a discussion of methods and costs. It also compares intermodal transport to multimodal transport.

Determine the cost savings that IMC companies can provide

Because an intermodal marketing company provides a single-party solution to shipping needs, it can result in cost savings for your company. This is especially true if you need to use multiple forms of shipping to get your product to its destination.
Try: Read about the cost savings and other benefits that a modern IMC can provide at World Trade Magazine. At AllBusiness, read an article on how Sweetheart Cup benefited from intermodal shipping to help you determine if it’s a good fit for your business.

Locate a reputable IMC company for your business shipping needs

If you're just starting to use IMC companies, you'll want to start your search by seeking out intermodal companies with professional affiliations and strong reputations. That way, you know you're entrusting your shipping to a reliable company.
Try: The Intermodal Association of North America provides a list of its members, IMCs that are dedicated to the industry. To view an individual IMC, check out the Hub Group, which is one of the largest intermodal marketing companies in North America.

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